Warehouse Director
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: Terminal / Warehousing / Logistics Operations
Supervises: Various Operations Teams
Position Summary
A well-established organization within the terminal, warehousing, and logistics industry is seeking an experienced Warehouse Director to provide leadership and oversight for warehouse and yard operations.
The Warehouse Director is responsible for the overall safety, productivity, quality, financial performance, and operational effectiveness of the warehouse operation. This individual will provide visible, hands-on leadership while establishing clear expectations, driving accountability, and developing a culture focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement.
A critical component of this position is building and maintaining a high-performing team. The Warehouse Director will coach and develop leaders and frontline employees, address performance and behavioral concerns promptly, recognize strong performance, and ensure employees receive the training and resources necessary to safely and effectively perform their responsibilities.
This position requires a leader who is comfortable spending significant time in the operation, assessing performance, identifying opportunities for improvement, removing operational barriers, and ensuring compliance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), safety requirements, regulatory standards, and customer expectations.
The successful candidate will be capable of balancing safety, customer service, operational efficiency, employee engagement, and financial performance while leading with professionalism, accountability, and integrity.
Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & People Development
- Provide visible, hands-on leadership throughout warehouse and yard operations.
- Lead by example and promote a culture where safety, accountability, teamwork, and professionalism are expected.
- Establish clear performance expectations for supervisors, team leads, and frontline employees.
- Coach, mentor, and develop employees at all levels of the operation.
- Provide regular and documented performance feedback.
- Address employee performance, attendance, behavioral, and safety concerns promptly and consistently.
- Develop succession plans and cross-training initiatives to strengthen workforce capability and operational flexibility.
- Promote employee engagement, retention, accountability, and professional development.
- Ensure performance evaluations and employee development initiatives are completed timely and consistently.
Safety
- Maintain a strong safety culture throughout warehouse and yard operations.
- Ensure compliance with company safety policies, PPE requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
- Monitor safety performance, including recordable incidents, lost-time incidents, near misses, inspections, and audits.
- Ensure required safety training is completed and reinforced throughout the operation.
- Identify unsafe conditions or behaviors and ensure appropriate corrective action is taken.
Operational Excellence
- Oversee daily warehouse and yard activities to ensure safe, efficient, and timely execution.
- Monitor truck turnaround time and loading/unloading productivity.
- Oversee railcar loading and unloading activities, as applicable.
- Monitor daily production against operational plans and customer requirements.
- Maximize warehouse throughput and equipment utilization.
- Ensure shipments and customer orders are completed accurately and on time.
- Conduct routine operational audits to ensure compliance with SOPs, regulatory requirements, and company policies.
- Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities that increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve service.
Inventory & Quality
- Maintain strong inventory control and accuracy standards.
- Ensure cycle counts and inventory reconciliation processes are completed accurately.
- Monitor product damage, cargo claims, and shipping/receiving discrepancies.
- Maintain high standards for warehouse organization and housekeeping.
- Ensure cargo handling practices support both operational and customer quality expectations.
Financial Performance
- Manage labor productivity and labor costs in alignment with operational requirements.
- Monitor and control overtime.
- Manage operating expenses against established budgets.
- Maximize equipment utilization while supporting appropriate maintenance and cost controls.
- Monitor supply, material, and other controllable operational costs.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and financial performance.
Customer Service
- Ensure operational activities consistently meet customer expectations.
- Maintain strong on-time service performance.
- Respond quickly and professionally to customer and operational concerns.
- Work collaboratively to resolve customer complaints and service issues.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure operational plans support customer requirements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner effectively with warehouse, terminal, logistics, marine operations, maintenance, customer service, commercial, safety, and other internal teams.
- Communicate operational priorities, risks, and performance expectations clearly.
- Support both short-term operational objectives and longer-term strategic initiatives.
- Make timely, sound business decisions in a fast-paced operating environment.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant terminal, warehouse, or breakbulk operations experience, including demonstrated people leadership experience.
- Experience within breakbulk terminal operations strongly preferred.
- Previous experience with cargo handling and heavy equipment operations.
- Experience handling breakbulk cargo, metals, or similar industrial products is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and develop operational teams.
- Strong knowledge of warehouse safety, operational procedures, productivity management, and inventory controls.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence and engage employees at all levels.
- Ability to respond to operational issues quickly, safely, and effectively in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong analytical, decision-making, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to operate effectively in an environment requiring flexibility, adaptability, and a high degree of accountability.
Leadership Competencies
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
- Strong people leadership and employee development skills
- Accountability and ownership
- Sound and timely decision-making
- Problem-solving and analytical thinking
- Strong written and verbal communication
- Customer focus
- Integrity and professionalism
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Ability to lead through ambiguity and changing operational priorities
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Ability to execute short-term priorities while supporting long-term operational goals
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment
Physical & Work Requirements
- Ability to work in warehouse, terminal, and yard environments in varying weather conditions and around heavy machinery.
- Ability to safely climb and descend ladders and stairs to access operational areas and equipment.
- Ability to perform physical activities associated with an industrial terminal environment.
- Ability to lift up to 75 pounds, as required.
- Ability to work rotating or changing schedules based on operational needs.
- Schedule flexibility, including potential early mornings, evenings, weekends, and extended hours as operationally necessary.
- Must satisfy applicable pre-employment and fit-for-duty requirements.
Measures of Success
Success in this position will be measured through a combination of:
- Safety performance
- Operational productivity and efficiency
- Service reliability and on-time performance
- Inventory and shipping accuracy
- Labor and operating cost management
- Customer satisfaction
- Employee engagement and retention
- Leadership development and succession planning
- Compliance with operational procedures and standards
- Continuous improvement of warehouse and yard operations
This is a confidential search. Additional information regarding the organization, location, compensation, and specific operational responsibilities will be shared with qualified candidates as they progress through the selection process.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Relocation assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
